San Jose Earthquakes 3, New York Red Bulls 1 (3-2 agg)

The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the top seeded New York Red Bulls 3-1 on Thursday night at Red Bull Arena, advancing 3-2 on aggregate to the Eastern Conference Championship.

Bobby Convey put the Quakes on top just six minutes into the match, leveling the aggregate score at 1-1. Ryan Johnson sent a dangerous cross into the area that came off of Scott Sealy’s chest. An unmarked Convey finished smartly to Red Bulls' keeper Bouna Coundoul’s right.

Convey added a second in the 76th minute off of an assist from substitute Arturo Alvarez. Convey turned Tim Ream at the edge of the area, came in one-on-one with Coundoul and finishedwith a powerful shot over Coundoul.

After Juan Pablo Ángel pulled one back for New York just two minutes later, Budweiser Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski sent the Quakes through with a header in the 81st minute. Convey played a ball from about 45 yards out to find a streaking Wondolowski, whose header beat Coundoul high into the near post.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOPOn the result:“We scored early and it opened the game up. We were great tonight, really I thought we played very well and were fantastic. They (New York) had their chances, but they didn’t finish them and we did. I told the guys we had to believe in it. You always have to be prepared for whatever comes your way, we went one goal up, and we responded very well for the full 90 minutes. Great result, great feeling.”

On Bobby Convey’s play:“He played very well, he went from left midfield to left back and didn’t skip a beat. He finished very well on both of his goals. On both goals he just buried them and kept his cool. This was by far the best game Bobby has played with us.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MIDFIELDER BOBBY CONVEY

On the win:“Nobody was looking for us to win, everyone thought this series was New York’s to win and we just came in as the underdog and came in here and played well. We seem to play very well on the road, and that was the case tonight.”

On the series clinching goal:“Arty (Arturo Alvarez) and Eduardo had a good combination down the left, and Dane (Richards) was ball-watching a little bit, so I could sneak forward. Obviously, you look up before you get the ball, and Wondo (Chris Wondolowski) always makes a late, cutting run. That’s where I knew he was going, and I just played it in and he hit a very good header.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES FORWARD CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI

On his series clinching goal:“Our team has been great all year and has been creating chances for me. I feel if I get an opportunity, I can do good things with it. I pride myself on finishing, and when it’s a ball in like that (Bobby Convey’s cross in the 81st minute), it makes my job easy.”

On advancing:“It has been kind of a whirlwind, nothing has sunken in yet with our team, which I think is a good thing. We kind of like having that chip on our shoulder, being the underdog and I think that helps us work harder. If we work hard, we create some chances on the break, and I think that’s a good recipe for a good run in the playoffs.”